Published: Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 08:01 PM.

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If you’re intending on packing heat under the Christmas tree, there are some things – both old and new – to know.

In Lenoir County, it can take some time to acquire a pistol permit or a concealed carry permit. Much of that is because of volume. Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, gun and ammunition sales spiked because of perceived fears of new gun control laws.

“There was a backlog on both sides of it – both the purchase permits and concealed weapons,” Lenoir County Sheriff Chris Hill said.

There were 858 pistol permits issued by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s office last year, and latest available numbers show 889 permits issued this year. Over the same period in 2011, 636 were issued.

“Under the law, we have to get a purchase permit out within 14 days, but under the concealed weapons stuff, we have to have the permit out within 45 days after we get back all the records,” Hill said. “And, that’s what typically drags it on, because we’re waiting for other entities to provide us with mental health records and things like that. We’re keeping pace with everything, and we’ve done it without any more staffing. But, I’ll tell you – last year at this time, we were wide open.”

A pair of bills passed by the General Assembly in its latest session have changed what residents can and can’t do in the state, relative to firearms.

In a Senate bill, there was a push to eliminate pistol permits altogether.

If you’re intending on packing heat under the Christmas tree, there are some things – both old and new – to know.

In Lenoir County, it can take some time to acquire a pistol permit or a concealed carry permit. Much of that is because of volume. Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, gun and ammunition sales spiked because of perceived fears of new gun control laws.

“There was a backlog on both sides of it – both the purchase permits and concealed weapons,” Lenoir County Sheriff Chris Hill said.

There were 858 pistol permits issued by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s office last year, and latest available numbers show 889 permits issued this year. Over the same period in 2011, 636 were issued.

“Under the law, we have to get a purchase permit out within 14 days, but under the concealed weapons stuff, we have to have the permit out within 45 days after we get back all the records,” Hill said. “And, that’s what typically drags it on, because we’re waiting for other entities to provide us with mental health records and things like that. We’re keeping pace with everything, and we’ve done it without any more staffing. But, I’ll tell you – last year at this time, we were wide open.”

A pair of bills passed by the General Assembly in its latest session have changed what residents can and can’t do in the state, relative to firearms.

In a Senate bill, there was a push to eliminate pistol permits altogether.

“We’re here to enhance our Second Amendment rights, which have been too long restricted by the previous majority,” said Sen. Buck Newton, R-Wilson, at the time. “These are, by definition, law-abiding citizens.”

Though that provision was taken out, there were still a number of changes.

According to the state Sheriffs’ Association, pistol permit fees are capped at $5 – though that’s payable by cash only in Lenoir County – there’s no limit to the amount of pistol permits a person can obtain, and a person lawfully in possession of a suppressor, or silencer, may use it while hunting.

In another change, lists of pistol and concealed carry permit holders are no longer public record and can only be accessed by law enforcement.

The sheriff’s office has discretionary authority over the permitting process in the county, and won’t issue a pistol permit if there’s anything false on the application, or if the applicant was convicted of a DWI, drug offense or assault in the last three years.

Permits may also be denied for a person having a particularly checkered criminal history.

Concealed carry permits are also at a high point. There were less than 300 concealed carry permits issued in Lenoir County in 2008, but there were 526 processed in 2012 and 789 – so far – this year.

A concealed carry permit runs $100.

The sheriff’s office disqualifies a number of categories of people from obtaining a concealed carry permit, including those convicted on a number of offenses including assault, throwing objects at sports events and unsurprisingly, violation of the concealed handgun law.

The state Sheriffs’ Association notes several changes to the concealed carry law by recent legislation. For instance, it’s now legal to bring a gun onto a public school campus, provided it’s in a container in a locked vehicle.

Also, if a sign hasn’t been posted prohibiting firearms, it’s legal to bring a concealed gun into an assembly where a fee has been charged, a facility selling alcohol – provided the permit holder doesn’t drink – a parade or funeral procession, state rest areas and state-owned hunting and fishing reservations.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.